José Fernández Remembered
Twenty-four-year-old Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins ace pitcher, died early Sunday morning in a boating accident. His boat was found upside down against a jetty near the entrance of the Miami Harbor. Players around the league referred to Fernandez as one of baseball’s brightest stars.
After cancelling their Sunday night game against the Braves, the team honored their late teammate on the pitchers mound with an emotional tribute on Monday against the New York Mets, the first game since the team lost its beloved pitcher.
An eery rendition of “Take me out to the Ball Game,” played solely on the trumpet, rang out across Marlins Park following a moment of silence for Fernandez. The notes hung in the air as pregnant pauses. Fans mourned and players cried.
Shortly after the full tribute, many said Fernandez was an angel in the outfield, providing the power behind the bat of Dee Gordon who sent a ball catapulting into the stands on a 2–0 count in the bottom of the first inning.
Gordon, a lefty hitter, took the first pitch from the right side to honor Fernandez, then switched back over to the left and sent his first home run of the season into the stands. Even Mets fans were standing and cheering. Everyone in the ballpark knew who that was for.
As Gordon rounded the bases, he broke into tears, pointing to the sky as he reached home before being embraced by his teammates outside of the dugout.
The Marlins plan to retire Fernandez’s number, #16, into the rafters to honor him with a place forever in their home ball park.
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